Six Yorkshire companies have reached the national finals of the Business in the Community (BITC) Responsible Business Awards.

At a dinner at Bradford’s Cedar Court Hotel, finalists Asda, ITV, WDH, Esh Group and Morrisons were celebrated for their work within communities, schools, work inclusion, rural action and inspiring young talent.

Yorkshire Water was also named in the line-up as a finalist for Responsible Business of the Year.

Shortlisted firms Marshalls, Asda, Linbrooke Services, NG Bailey, Yorkshire Water, Zenith, DFS Trading and WDH were acknowledged for global development and sustainability activities, developing young talent in schools and supporting people from disadvantaged groups into employment.

The six finalists will go on to present their programmes to senior business professionals with the overall winners announced next month.

A further nine organisations – British Land, Morrisons, Pinsent Masons LLP, Asda, Centre for Partnership, Vista, Drax Group plc, Keepmoat and JN Bentley received accreditations for demonstrating continual positive impacts through a programme initially awarded in 2013 or 2014.

TD Direct Investing, Yorkshire Bank and Irwin Mitchell were also recognised for their employee volunteering work and Michelle Harris, assistant headteacher at Lawnswood School in Leeds, was named as Community Champion.

Speaking via a video message at the dinner, HRH The Prince of Wales, who is President of BITC, said the awards “provide an important opportunity to celebrate business at its best”.

“These awards are therefore vital as a way of inspiring other businesses to follow this lead,” he added.

Andy Clarke, the chief executive of Asda, who is also the Prince’s ambassador for BITC, said: “We’ve got to shout even louder about the opportunities in this great county of ours.”